The use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in elite sports remains a blemish on the name of athletics and continues to be a controversial topic today. Individual nations have inconsistent doping policies and athletes are subjected to different drug testing standards based on their nationality. This presentation will analyze the inequality of these policies and argue that this practice eventually leads to elite athletes exhibiting sporting xenophobia, the belief that other countries have less restrictive doping regulations, and that athletes from these countries are more likely to use PEDs in competition. Researchers such as Klaus Wivel, who has investigated the inequality of these policies, and Marie Overbye, who has studied how these laws impact athletes' perceptions of one another, have criticized these laws as being ineffective and contributing to the athletic doping epidemic. The presumed authority on all things PED, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), supposedly provides universal guidelines for the regulation of athletic doping. However, they have been scrutinized as too weak to enforce their policies, and let other governing bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee and International Federations, choose how WADA’s rules are enforced. Therefore, ineffective PED legislation mars the integrity and respectability of elite sports.

Even in the 21st century, institutionalized racial disparities in healthcare quality and accessibility pervade; these disparities continue to affect the reproductive liberty of Black and Hispanic women, particularly those of socioeconomically disadvantaged status. Many researchers indicate that health care providers disproportionately recommend long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods to women of color, fueling conspiracy beliefs and generating distrust in minority communities regarding what are perceived to be racist provider agendas. Since LARC methods parallel tubal sterilization in terms of efficacy, provider bias in the recommendation of LARC methods may be perceived as an attempt to limit the fertility of minority women. Fearing the intentions of their providers, Black and Hispanic women frequently turn to statistically inferior methods of birth control not requiring provider involvement. This presentation will explore the existing research concerning how racial disparities in contraceptive recommendations increase the rate of unintended pregnancies in minority communities, and how this real or perceived form of racial targeting can be contextualized against the backdrop of institutionalized racism within the United States. Ultimately, this connection may illuminate how structural and institutionalized racism in the American health care system can no longer be reconciled with the goals of a nation espousing humanitarian ideals.

Beauty Deconstructed: The Socioeconomic Implications of Ethnic Facial Features in America

This research will examine the relationship between socioeconomic class and ethnic facial features. Photographs of Black and White women have been manipulated in Photoshop so there are two photos of each woman, each with characteristically Black facial features or characteristically White facial features. Geneticists have determined that prototypical Black features include a wider, flatter nose and larger, more protruding lips, whereas White features include a longer, narrower nose, and small, full lips. Data has been collected using the survey method on a sample of MCC students. Each survey examined phenotypic White and Black facial features independent of skin tone. I found a strong relationship between facial features and perceived attractiveness and assumed income. For the attractiveness data the preference for White facial features was much stronger in White models; this preference did not appear in the income data. This relationship held for both Black and White models and for participants of different ethnicities. I will tie together these findings based on the survey results to show there is a relationship between certain ethnically phenotypic features, perceived attractiveness, and socioeconomic status, and offer an explanation for why that relationship may exist.

Session 1B
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Room 12-109

Risky Business: Correlating Symptoms of the Common Cold and Influenza with Exposure Risks in the Monroe Community College Student Population
Cooper Townsend
Sponsor: Professor Paul Wakem (Biology)

This study collected data from a random sample of students at Monroe Community College's Brighton Campus. The data included people that have different exposure risks including hospital visits/work shifts, living with children, shopping frequency at grocery stores, and type of transportation used to commute to school. The sample was chosen at random, with the only requirement being that the participants were current students at the college. A confidential survey was distributed to each participant face-to-face, and 215 students completed the survey. The data was analyzed using statistical methods to predict whether there was a high correlation between students that were symptomatic and who had either frequently visited or were employed at a hospital or long-term care facility. The results indicated that either visiting or working at a hospital or long-term care facility correlated to a significantly higher risk for experiencing symptoms of the common cold or influenza. It is impossible to establish a causative relationship between symptomatic students and the frequency of visits to healthcare institutions using the data we collected. Further investigation would be needed to properly identify and isolate other variables that may have contributed to the results.

Have Pain? A Tennis Ball may do the Trick
Michelle K. Merkel
Sponsors: Professors Joanna Tsai (Biology) and Jodi Oriel (Student Life and Leadership)

Fascia is a richly multi-dimensional connective tissue of elastin collagen fibers that surrounds almost every structure in our body from the microscopic level to all major body systems to directly under our skin. This network of fascial fabric forms a tensile structure in our body that plays an important role to the support and function of our body. While many people are attentive to the fact that posture plays an important role in keeping us balanced and upright, many still overlook how posture can impact our wellbeing. The key concepts of the fascial network will be discussed and how it influences the musculoskeletal dynamics. I will present this theory using assessment methods from Tom Myers - the author of KMI (Kinesis Myofascial Integration). The assessment will demonstrate the superficial back line in a clear and simple administered method that shows how fascia and movement are vital for keeping the body both stable and efficient.

Preventing Infant and Maternal Mortality in the United States
Naomi Turiano
Sponsor: Professor Jan Volland (Nursing)

Worldwide, decreasing maternal and infant mortality rates can signal that a country has gone from a developing to developed status and that its citizens have adequate access to healthcare. In the United States, infant and maternal mortality rates have actually been increasing over the past decade, and African-American moms and babies are facing disproportionately adverse outcomes compared to other populations. This presentation will focus on issues causing infant and maternal mortality that are preventable, such as lack of access to prenatal care, SIDS, preeclampsia, or preterm birth, and the scientific research behind them. Likewise, an additional part of the presentation is to report on what various organizations in Rochester, NY are doing to prevent or decrease infant and maternal mortality.

Session 1C
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Room 12-111

Filling in a Highway, Building a City: A New Urbanist Perspective on Rochester's Inner Loop East Project
Edward H. Campany II
Sponsor: Professor Thomas Blake (English)

New Urbanism emerged in the urban planning profession to offset suburbanization and curb the widespread decline of cities. The movement aims to attract and retain tax-paying residents by promoting close-knit communities through city design. Recent migration to urban areas is incentivizing these changes. Rochester, NY's Inner Loop East project exemplifies this major shift in urban planning, part of which is evident in the project's emphasis on walkability. Moving away from dependency on automobiles, the Inner Loop project encourages pedestrian traffic by filling in a 2/3-mile stretch of highway between downtown and the lower East End neighborhood, and should be completed by December 2017. The Inner Loop project will increase walking and biking, support healthy lifestyles, improve sustainability, and reconnect distanced communities.

A well designed, easily recognizable, and consistent corporate identity can be a key factor in the success of a business. The goal of this project was to create a company, product line, and corporate identity for a fictional business to be presented in the form of a corporate identity manual. Typically, the first step in this process would be to research the history of the business and interview key personnel in order to write a creative brief outlining the scope of the project. Being that my business was fictitious and there were no personnel to interview, I invented the history of my company and used that information to write a brief. Using knowledge gathered by researching related businesses and reading existing manuals, I created a series of designs that evolved with my company from its inception to the development of its present day Corporate Identity Manual.

This presentation explores the harmony that must exist between design and engineering during the creation of any product, touching upon the daily use of basic scientific methods by designers to create an efficient, solid identity for a brand. The process for both the brand and the semi-functional prototype of the fictional product will be discussed, along with the real-life potential and feasibility of an attachment that combines sensor data and a projector to help make night-time riding for bicyclists safer, as well as track all the information to create crowdsourced safe road maps, and a personalized fitness experience.

Session 1D
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Room 12-113

The False Hopes and Secrets of Fertility Tourism: The Role of Poverty and Caste in Medically Assisted Reproduction in India
Meltem Otunctemur
Sponsor: Professor Scott Rudd (English)

India has become the international leader among industrialized nations when it comes to surrogacy-related fertility tourism, or MAR (Medically Assisted Reproduction), which involves third party individuals acting as surrogate mothers who are implanted with embryos for the sake of bearing a child for couples from Western nations. Since its legalization in 2002, couples have traveled thousands of miles primarily for the lower cost of MAR in India. Indian women's hopes have been continually fueled by the potential opportunity of selling their womb in return for financial security for their families. However, this unique phenomenon of carrying another couple's child has been exploited by surrogacy agents, doctors, and recruiters who facilitate these arrangements. This presentation analyzes the multiple systems involved before, during, and after the surrogacy arrangement, and will examine and consider the role of poverty, economy, and caste as well. Particular attention will be paid to the language of the regulations that govern MAR in India, which will show how these arrangements are in reality not quite what the surrogate mothers thought they were.

Early modern conduct books had a wide assortment of concentrations, from making young women desirable to men of a good social position, to advising women on daily living, marriage, household upkeep, child rearing, and more. When we look at 17th through 19th, and likely 20th century conduct books we expect to find language and messages that abolish a woman's dreams and independence: usually written by male writers in a misogynistic tone. And it is true that most advice books were written by men in the beginning, but an increasing number of books called mother's advice books began to be published and read beginning in the 17th century. These books used a mother's experience as her position of authority on topics that would impact a woman throughout her life: motherhood experience, a perspective that no man could ever claim or trump. Looking at some of the most recent publications of modern magazines, from FamilyFun to Vogue, and Fine Cooking to Seventeen Magazine, I will show that today's magazines, not self-help books, are the modern Advice Books of the 21st century.

The topic of immigration is currently one of the most heated issues in the political sphere. Various arguments have been presented that showcase the benefits and hindrances of immigration in the U.S. My presentation is focused on demonstrating the economic commonalities between the three biggest waves of immigration throughout America's history, specifically the Irish waves of the late 1800s, the Italian waves of the early 1900s, and the consistent influx of Hispanics starting in the 1950s. I will be comparing similarities and differences of each of the waves to the current situation of immigration in today's society. This discussion will focus purely on the common effects each wave has had in the American economy in their respective times, while relating them to possible economical expectations today, depending on the immigration policies to be undertaken. Comparative analyses of both economic and immigration statistics of each wave will be derived from the CIA World Fact Book, as well as the Department of Homeland Security.

Session 1E
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Room 12-125

Students' Perceived Features and Barriers to Success in Online Courses: A Case Study
Jesse Redlo (Tutor, Academic Foundations; doctoral candidate, American College of Education)

With the popularity of online courses, it is important to understand students' experiences and how these experiences will drive successful learning outcomes. This study intends to (1) identify online course attributes that enhance student online learning; (2) identify the barriers that prevent students from being successful; (3) provide recommendations to improve online pedagogy; and (4) enhance online delivery of subjects. This study adopted a qualitative, interview-based approach. Only students who have taken a minimum of two online courses were eligible to participate. Interview transcripts were coded by the researchers. Interviewees indicated a preference for online courses, due to organization, self-pacing, and the schedule stability. Features they disliked about the courses included discussion board(s), lack of structure, and team work components. Professor's robotic feedback, inability to form study groups, problems collaborating on group assignments, lack of relationship building with peers, problems locating the assignments, and limited time to complete quizzes/exams were reported as barriers to success. Interviewees also felt that the online learning environment promoted equal participation, since the participation was accomplished via written, not spoken, English. Instructors' responsibilities should not end the moment the online course is launched - success relies on commitment from both the course creator and user(s).

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have great potential and can be used in multiple settings. One setting that UAVs can be utilized is in rescue kit drop-off scenarios. UAVs do not require the pilot to be inside of the vehicle he is operating. This makes UAVs a better option in dangerous zones or difficult terrains. Our group was given the task of fabricating a mini UAV that will simulate the drop-off of two rescue kits in difficult terrains by maneuvering through an obstacle course and making two automated payload drop-offs using color sensors. It is not only important to accomplish this goal, but to do it quickly and efficiently as well.

In our presentation we will be discussing our entrance into the 2017 SUNY TYESA UAV competition. We will discuss the goals set for the competition and the requirements for performing in the competition. We will discuss our approach to the goals in order to be prepared for the competition. After this, the outline of our design process of the UAV will be discussed. We will be providing images of our SOLIDWORKS assembling drawings where we will discuss our thoughts on our design. We will also discuss our other options that came up for the design such as changes in some of the parts of our design. We will be showcasing pictures of our progress on our UAV and videos of our flight test up to our current progress that our pilot can achieve. We will be discussing the problems that occurred while our pilot was practicing the flight of our UAV. Towards the end of our presentation, we will end with a discussion about our preparation for the upcoming competition we will be competing in.

Session 1F
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Room 12-129

J.D Salinger's novel, the Catcher in the Rye, has shaped the media with its focus on the teenage experience and its themes. Transcending well beyond its original context and format, Catcher has cemented its relevance in popular culture, even permeating one of the newest vehicles for storytelling, video games. Sharing many thematic elements, DONTNODS game, Life is Strange, stands as one case of the continuous reinventing and relevance of Salinger's original story. One of the strongest thematic parallels between the two literary works is seen between the characters of Allie Caulfield, Holden's younger brother, and Chloe Price, a blue-haired teenager from Life is Strange. Both characters symbolize the youth and morality as seen by the teenage protagonists and the desperation to hold onto the past no matter the damage it causes, even to oneself. Ultimately, both pieces of literature stand to show change cannot be stopped, whether the protagonists like it or not. Beyond that, the numerous parallels stand to show video games have just as much merit as American classics, reinventing iconic works in a new, refreshing way.

Is There a More Representative way to Elect the American President?
Zackary Graham
Sponsor: Professor Joseph Scanlon (Political Science)

In the 2000 and 2016 American presidential elections, the candidate who won the popular vote did not win a majority of electoral votes, therefore was not elected to be president. This divergence in results between popular and electoral elections in recent years could signal that the current Electoral College system is not the most representative way to elect the American President. This paper defines representation as directly reflecting the interests of the citizens in each official's district. As it stands, each state is given the number of electoral votes equal to its total members of congress. This paper asks if the use of a congressional district method to elect the American President would be more representative of the constituents that the electors represent. Maine and Nebraska have such a system where each congressional district receives one electoral vote, and the state's popular vote determines the two remaining electoral votes. Using descriptive statistics and data analysis of the results from each individual congressional district, this paper argues that the congressional district method is a more representative way to distribute electoral votes.

Growing political polarization in the United States has made it difficult for individuals to engage in constructive political discussions. Individuals often talk to each other with terms they define differently, inhibiting any potential compromises. Recent studies show that 27% of Democrats and 36% of Republicans see the opposing party as a threat to the nation's well-being. Simultaneously, technological innovation has dramatically changed the ways individuals in the United States communicate and attain information. Social media usage has increased nearly tenfold, from 7% in 2005, to 65% in 2015. This presentation examines how social media's replacement of traditional media is challenging the way people define terms and concepts. An analysis of language used with popular conservative and liberal social media profiles was conducted to view how terms are defined and used. Results conclude that terms between conservative and liberal profiles are often associated with diverging contextual information.

Session 2, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Session 2A
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Room 12-107

Historical Perspectives: Research from the English/Philosophy Department’s Advanced Composition Class

The Underlying Economic Motives of Anti-Semitism: Property Seizure and the Forgiveness of Debts During The Black Death

Kaluwe Muntanga
Sponsor: Professor Scott Rudd (English)

A devastating plague tore its way through Europe from 1347 to 1353, leaving millions of people dead and mass hysteria in its wake. For years, money lending inflamed the tension between Jews and Christians, and I aim to illuminate how the calamity caused by the Black Death created the environment for Medieval Christians to mask the goal of economic gain under the veil of centuries of religious and ethnic intolerance. John Kelly, author of The Great Mortality, details how the faceless nature of The Black Death allowed many false ideas and scapegoats to be attached to the epidemic. Moreover, Don Nardo, author of The Black Death, cites that many of the false accusations against the Jewish people stemmed from groundless well poisoning allegations. Upon reading Collin Platt's King Death, I discovered that Jews held a prominent role as money lenders during the 14th century. Thus, I believe that the plague provided a false justification for European Christians to commit Anti-Semitic violence, seize property and valuables, and absolve themselves of their debts to Jewish money lenders. The Black Death was the perfect loophole for medieval Europe to act on their Anti-Semitic beliefs while reaping the economic benefits of the situation.

An Analysis of Guyana's Potential to Combat the Resource Curse Following the Discovery of Oil Along its Coast
Jaimee Prass
Sponsor: Professor Scott Rudd (English)

Guyana, a developing nation located in the North-Eastern part of South America, has found itself on the verge of a possible restructuring of its entire economy. Despite being a resource wealthy nation, Guyana has struggled for decades under oppressive government rule. However, with the new discovery of two vast oil reserves and a newly elected political party taking over Parliament for the first time in twenty-three years, there are possibilities that the nation may begin to thrive and prosper. This presentation will analyze the current state of the Guyanese economy, noting several challenges needed to be overcome that may otherwise result in either the stagnation or worsening of the economy, in particular the resource curse. Considering the complex history of Guyana, this presentation will explore just how the resource curse has caused the country to go from a once-flourishing British colony to a struggling developing nation, and what can be done to remedy the curse in the wake of the new discovery of oil.

Bosko, Bambi, and Bugs Bunny: Animated Propaganda of the Second World War
Nicole Crosby
Sponsor: Professor Scott Rudd (English)

This presentation studies the content of animated propaganda during World War 2 in order to determine the role America's preexisting prejudices played in shaping the messages of the propaganda that studios delivered. Cartoons, provided by studios like Disney, Warner Bros., and Paramount, served government sponsored agendas during World War 2. By tuning into the American people's emotional needs and desires, animated shorts and features influenced their viewers to believe and act out in ways that would support the United States' war efforts. Humorous parodies of collecting scrap metal and purchasing war bonds encouraged Americans to behave similarly, while absurd caricatures of the Axis powers fueled hate for the enemy and bolstered American pride. In a study by Machowski and Brown, almost 200 wartime cartoons were evidence to the fact that cartoon creators, steered by their viewership, were more willing to give the Germans allowances than they were the Japanese, due to Japan's glaring cultural differences as well as the attack on Pearl Harbor. A comparison between cartoon propaganda in the United States and the cartoons used to fuel Jewish hatred in Nazi Germany is also made.

Session 2B
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Room 12-109

Student Self-Assessment: Does it Make a Difference in Success in the Classroom?
Karina Rzepa
Sponsor: Professor James Cronmiller (Biology)

The success of students in the classroom translates to retention and completion. Early warning strategies with proper intervention would appear an intuitive method of increasing the likelihood of student success. We describe a method, Student Self-Assessment, to improve success in the classroom. Students in different Fall 2016 biology courses were given an assessment form to complete the first week of class, which included a description of expectations, concerns, outside commitments, motivations for doing well, and a checklist of 17 different study strategies they plan to use during the semester. After each exam they repeated the checklist and explained why they did or did not do well on the exam and described their plan of action in the future. The percentage of students who received >70% increased on successive exams. The most telling categories between those who did and did not receive a grade higher or equal to 70% was preparation each day, amount of time studying, note taking, and studying in a groups. 93% of the students felt the process helped them with study habits and guided them in planning future strategies. Early intervention (counseling and guidance) through the use of this instrument was shown to be effective.

Our presentation will cover the evolutionary pressures involved in the development of skin color. We will describe the pigments responsible for skin color, their purpose, and the cells that produce them. The evolution of skin color started with our African ancestors approximately 1.2 million years ago. As ancestors of the genus Homo moved down from the trees onto the plains and lost their hair, they changed skin color. Skin pigmentation evolved from light to dark as protection from the harmful, intense ultraviolet radiation (UR) around the equator. It is surmised that dark skin provided protection against skin cancer and breakdown of folic acid allowing reproductive success and survival of our species. As our ancestors moved out of Africa to higher latitudes where the sun's UV rays are less intense, evolutionary pressure was to de-pigment so that our skin could absorb enough sunlight to produce vitamin D which is necessary for the absorption of calcium. Recent research suggest an advancement of UR intensity at the north and south poles with the depletion of the ozone layer. These changes have increased the risk of cancer and other maladies especially in countries like Australia. An argument could be made that we are facing evolutionary pressure to revert back to the protective color black.

Session 2C
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Room 12-111

The long dark unknown of Paleoamerican migration is as mysterious as it is alluring. Since the early twentieth century, anthropologists and archaeologists have relied on the study of oral traditions, language, and a scattered trail of human remains and artifacts. The inherent uncertainties of this evidence have led to disparities in the field over age, origin, contact, and course, shown in debates over the early "Clovis First" model, "Soultrean" hypothesis, and southern Pacific migration. Yet, more recent breakthroughs in genomic and computing capabilities have shed light on these ambiguities. Through the intersection of these theories and the established groundwork of archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics, the burgeoning field of molecular biology and its body of ever-growing yet volatile genetic evidence can come closer to providing an objective consensus on pre-contact migration. An overview of the debates over the peopling of pre-contact America, filtered through the lens of genomic advances and their arguments, will provide a stronger understanding of how the native people of this land traveled here against all odds, the potential of molecular biology, and ultimately the implications it holds regarding the migration of our species.

The issue of blood quantum within Native American communities is influenced by both native tribes and the government. Blood quantum influences the way Native Americans identify with their heritage. This tool for defining identity was originally created by the government. Over the past two hundred years, the government compelled Native Americans to reconstruct their ethnic identity numerous times. Multiple gauges have been used to certify who was American Indian, such as percentage of blood, genealogical descent, self-identification, and others. There are standards of blood percentage for tribal membership which may differ between tribes. Overall, my goal is to bring light to the fact that Native Americans' identity does not rely solely on blood quantum, but on tribal heritage, history, and cultural politics. Today there are over three hundred federally recognized Native American tribes. For an individual to be recognized by the government they must be a member of one of these tribes. Some people take pride in being legally recognized by the government, while others do not appreciate the government keeping track of them. In the 60s and 70s more Native Americans began to identify with their tribes' heritage. Some observers argue this may be influenced by ethnic pride movements, but also casino revenue of that time.

The Comanche Code Talkers of World War II: Changing The Outcome of The Battle of Normandy
Nicholas Bertino
Sponsor: Professor E. Jethro Gaede (Anthropology)

The critical importance of Comanche Code Talkers in World War II and their importance in the battle of Normandy is often overlooked in the context of military history. They saved lives, and in turn affected the outcome of the battle and the outcome of the war. Understanding the purpose, techniques, intention, and responsibilities of the Code Talkers in World War II gives insight as to how Native American culture influenced these men and their roles in battle. The inspiration for the idea, the recruitment, deployment, and lasting effect on modern day military communication is to be explored. Contributions in history and contemporary culture will show how Native American and Comanche customs help shape the perception of Native Americans in the American military.

Session 2D
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Room 12-113

The objective of the team was to design and build a vehicle that would have the ability to function as a boat, a car, and an aeronautical vehicle. The design was based on hyper-boats and is operated by a pilot with the possibility of some automation. The vehicle has four wheels and drives under its own power while being piloted remotely using a RC receiver. The vehicle has wings and propellers for sustained flight. The wing system is controllable similarly to a plane's tail. The vehicle has dual hulls similar to a hyper-boat and can perform as a boat while being piloted remotely using a RC receiver. The vehicle can also transfer from boat to car seamlessly and vice versa, as well as from boat to plane and plane to car.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of virtual reality as a replacement for physical science laboratories. Virtual reality was chosen because it has become easily accessible and affordable, when compared to the high cost of renovating or constructing a new science laboratory. This study uses a smartphone with a Google Daydream headset to generate the virtual reality environment. Participants perform a science experiment in the traditional setting and then perform it again using the virtual reality environment with a Google Daydream remote. A qualitative research approach is used to measure the feasibility of replacing a physical science laboratory with a virtual reality laboratory. The anticipated outcome is virtual reality can provide an enhanced learning environment at a significant lower cost when compared to a traditional setting.

As of 2014, more than half of the world's population lived in cities. As urbanization increases, access to fresh produce becomes more difficult, especially for cities in colder climates where the outdoor growing season is short. This project was conceived as a way to take advantage of the temperature-controlled state of most homes and make growing plants (produce, herbs, flowers) indoors easier. It automates the watering and lighting of indoor plants and documents their growing conditions for later optimization. Each plant pot, or group of similarly sized pots, will have a moisture sensor and solenoid water valve. The valve will open and dispense water when the moisture level in the soil falls below a given threshold. Lights above the pots will have their intensity modulated by a light sensor to meet the lighting needs of the plant (full sun, partial sun, shade, etc.). The soil moisture and light level data will be automatically documented along with temperature and amount of water supplied. Each time a plant is grown, the documented growing conditions can be compared to the results. With repeated use, this growing condition data can be analyzed and the controllable factors optimized.

Session 2E
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Room 12-125

Design Build Fly is an international design competition for engineering students managed by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). AIAA creates new criteria for the design and operation of the aircraft to be built for each competition year. This year the objective was to design and build an aircraft capable of unfolding from a storage tube and flying three flights designed to test the vehicle's maneuverability, speed, and carrying weight in the form of hockey pucks. This presentation shows the evolution of the airplane from conception through redesign, prototyping, testing, and performance at the competition in Tucson, AZ.

A long-running focus of chemistry has been the activation and functionalization of C-H bonds. A wide variety of reaction conditions have been developed to satisfy this goal of chemistry, but many rely upon harsh reaction conditions as well as costly precious metal catalysts. However, with the development of new C-H bond functionalizing techniques, compounds may be synthesized more efficiently or even be synthesized for the first time. This can then widen the reactionary tool belt of chemical compounds that can be produced. With proper research, new pharmaceutical drugs, day-to-day products, and more can be created, thus impacting the world as we know it. One focus of this research was to arylate N-{2-[1-Benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]propan-2-yl}-2-Methylbenzamide with an iron catalyst. This reactant was synthesized using a click reaction followed by a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction. Lastly, a project involving a variation on a Suzuki reaction was conducted using an iron-based catalyst, opposed to the traditional palladium catalyst, which has never been attempted before.

Primary liver cancer is the fifth most prominent form of cancer diagnosed worldwide and is the third leading cause of cancer related death. Individuals who choose to forgo treatment have a mean survival time of 1.6 months. Due to the poor prognoses given, finding an effective treatment that extends survival time and limits patient discomfort is important to both the physician and the patient. Chemoembolization and radiation therapy are the leading courses of treatment in patients who are unable to have the primary liver cancers removed or receive a liver transplant. Analyses of patients who received chemoembolization show 1-year and 2-year survival rates of 63% and 38%. Similar retrospective analyses of patients treated with radiation therapy have shown 1-year and 2-year survival rates of 40% and 21%. Studies have shown that complications seen with individuals treated with chemoembolization are much less frequent when compared to radiation therapy. The culmination of research done shows that chemoembolization has better survival rates and less frequent occurrences of side effects when compared to radiation therapy. Inarguably, chemoembolization is the superior method of primary liver cancer treatment when compared to radiation therapy.

Session 2F
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Room 12-129

Mental illness is generally a very sensitive and complex topic. This paper and presentation explore the social construction of mental illness by popular culture, including film, television, and novels. This construction can lead to being socially stigmatized by those who do not suffer from any mental illnesses, as well as a self-perceived stigma, held by the sufferer. In order to explore both positive and negative portrayals and their effects on the public perception of disorders, I analyzed five films, two television shows, and four novels, as well as literary reviews of several films. Portrayals of mental illness in popular culture can both romanticize, as well as demonize, those suffering from certain disorders. Examining this portrayal may help bring more attention to the reality of mental illness to those who seek help as well as change the perceptions that we often see as our societal norm.

Two recent benchmark court cases addressing the overlap between business and religion have had distinctly contrasting outcomes. On one hand, a florist cannot abide by the owner’s religious beliefs and refuse to provide flowers for a gay wedding. On the other hand, a business can enforce the owner’s religious beliefs onto its employees and decline to provide insurance coverage for abortions. Is there a reason in the two cases, State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers, and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, respectively, the outcomes were strikingly different? How does the freedom of religion clause impact the way businesses operate with regards to their customers and employees? This presentation will explain the two decisions and the reasoning for the different but similar outcomes, describing the differences between interactions with employees and interactions with customers.

Every kiss begins with Kay. When we hear that, we always think of Kay Jewelers. However surprisingly, some of their employees say otherwise, as there is a case in arbitration that involves 69,000 women. A case has been filed against Kay and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry where over 1,300 pages of sworn statements from former workers claimed they were accosted, pressured for sexual favors, groped and paid less than their male colleagues. However, this case is not the only case making headlines. Recently Uber, a ride sharing company, is also facing allegations of sexual harassment and reports that their HR department did not intervene sufficiently in those claims. While no lawsuit has been filed against Uber, there is a pending investigation. If the case against Kay and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry is proven, it could be a classic one of quid pro quo sexual harassment. The following presentation will make clear the legal wrong of sexual harassment in the workplace, the solutions available to successful petitioners, and course of action a business can take to eliminate sexual harassment from its workplace.

Our collaborative project, completed for the Phi Theta Kappa program of College Project, was dedicated to improving an environment on campus that promotes and enhances students' knowledge of available resources to ultimately assist in relieving burdens and barriers that could hinder the completion of MCC students' college degree. These resources include organizations such as Single Stop, The MCC Foundation, Save for Success, Health Services, and Dreamkeepers. We conducted our research at MCC events such as the Fall Leadership Retreat, and through collaboration with MCC administrators to note concerns regarding student retention, in particular how students were leaving MCC primarily due to financial hardship. In order to raise awareness of these financial resources, interactive in-school events were scheduled throughout the semester, which allowed students to gather more information about the financial aid that is readily accessible to them. We will share our findings regarding the institutional research we conducted and will compare the efficacy of our events held in the fall and spring semesters, and what improvements can be made for similar initiatives in future semesters.

Food-insecurity both worldwide and in the Rochester community remains an issue inherently connected to rights and responsibilities. Internationally, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights identifies access to nutritious food as an inalienable and universal human right. Our collaborative project, completed for the Phi Theta Kappa program of Honors in Action, began from the premise that all people have the right to nutritious food regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status. Our research showed that numerous factors such as federal and state policies, transportation difficulties, socioeconomic obstacles, and lack of nutritional knowledge all contribute to the continued presence of food insecurity in communities worldwide. Education affects knowledge of and attitudes towards healthy eating in the local community. Therefore, our team concentrated our efforts on implementing educational solutions. We created a multi-faceted action plan to influence food-insecure areas of Rochester. We conducted field research, created and distributed nutritional booklets, and planned a Family Nutrition Night. We collaborated with Foodlink and worked with local churches, schools, members of our college campus, a homeless shelter, and independent corner stores. Our efforts helped to promote affordable and healthy eating with the limited resources available in food insecure neighborhoods.

Hidden Discrimination in the Workforce: The Perpetuation of the Gender Wage Gap in the U.S.
Elizabeth De Meyer
Sponsor: Professor Scott Rudd (English)

The gender wage gap (GWG) in the U.S. persists, across both male and female dominated fields, and despite the equalization in education and work experience levels between males and females. After researchers compile the influences of measureable factors within the human capital framework (which include an individual's work experience and education), an unexplained portion of the GWG remains, which some researchers cite as the amount of discrimination present. The difficulty in pinpointing the causes of the unexplained portion may stem from the hidden structural and societal remnants of gender discrimination, present as implicit biases, automatic associations, and stereotypes. The effects of these factors on a woman's selection of education and career path can result in occupational sex segregation, which allow for an even greater consideration of the contributions of remaining gender discrimination on perpetuating the GWG. This hidden discrimination can influence women's choices at every point in their socialization, education, entrance into, and later experiences within, their chosen field. Therefore, because this discrimination does not exist as explicitly visible or measurable factors, the contributions of gender discrimination in perpetuating the gap may remain difficult to identify and fully eradicate.

In 2016, 956 refugees were resettled in Rochester, New York. My research explores the impact host communities, such as Rochester, have on the resettlement process of refugee populations and individuals with refugee status. I outline a number of Rochester organizations who work closely with refugees and the services they provide. Additionally, I highlight the shortcomings of the resettlement and integration process such as the isolation and alienation of refugees by the host community. To more adequately understand the resettlement process of refugees, I review various studies done in the United States on refugee and host community populations similar to Rochester, New York as well as the hybridization of cultures by resettled refugees. Furthermore, my research addresses how the host communities' perception of refugees greatly impacts - positively or negatively - their integration into the United States. Successful integration of refugees depends upon the interaction and connections host communities form with resettled populations, a process our nation can continue to improve upon.

Session 3B
1:15 – 2:15 p.m., Room 12-109

In ENR 259, Engineering Design Lab, we were expected to compete in the Mini UAV Competition. This competition requires a group of students to design and build a working UAV. During the competition, our UAV will have to perform multiple tasks. One task we are given is to fly our UAV through two gates of different heights twice. The UAV will also need to automatically detect the payload delivery box and its corresponding color and drop the correct colored golf ball that matches the color of the payload box. We have to build the frame ourselves and do all of the configurations for the electronics. We accomplish this through programming our light sensor and our flight controller using Adafruit and LibrePilot. Our goal of this project is to complete the UAV, be able to perform all the tasks, and compete in the Mini UAV Competition on May 5th. We expect that we will run into problems in both the mechanical and electrical parts of the project.

Innovative agricultural methods, such as fogponics, benefit the environment and society as a whole by measures of both energy efficiency and consumer practicality. Systems that use atomizers to deliver nutrient-rich mist directly onto plant roots accelerate maturity and mitigate yield loss caused by disease and pests. By fusing engineering science with agricultural advancement, we designed and constructed a small-scale fogponics system suitable for at-home use. Our design utilizes a unique Arduino control system to monitor and regulate the plant’s environment; this system widely alleviates the need for the consumer to intently oversee systems such as lighting, watering, and nutrient delivery. We conducted a preliminary analysis of growth outcomes and resource efficiency, comparing our system to plants grown using the traditional pot-and-soil method; in addition, research was conducted to analyze the sustainability of the products and processes used to create the farm, with the intention of sourcing materials with a more positive net environmental impact in the future. Early analyses and reflections on the design process have highlighted several aspects of our design, which, if implemented, would drastically improve resource and cost efficiency. Along with continued rigorous comparison testing, plans for a second model are underway.

When hikers and mountain climbers become stranded, every second counts. While the ideal solution to this problem would be to immediately dispatch a rescue team via helicopter, dangerous conditions can delay this process for days. In order to ensure that the hikers do not run out of supplies, a safer solution to this issue must be developed. With the advancement of UAV technology, we can deploy a UAV to deliver much needed supplies and aid to stranded hikers. By using the UAV for delivery of supplies, rescuers spare the risk to further human life by allowing time for adverse flying conditions to clear before sending a rescue team.

Session 3C
1:15 – 2:15 p.m., Room 12-111

In his 1923 review of Ulysses, poet and literary critic T.S. Eliot identifies a key component of James Joyce's work: the use of what Eliot calls the mythical method, that is, the employment of allusion to create parallels and intertextual resonance between ancient myth and contemporary experience. Joyce pairs early twentieth-century Dublin life with the heroic age of The Odyssey in Ulysses (1922) and with mythic Ireland in Finnegan's Wake (1939). My project seeks to examine the possibility that Joyce began to experiment with this same mythical method earlier in his career when writing A Painful Case, the eleventh story in Dubliners (1914). This project examines potential allusions in A Painful Case to Celtic elopement myths and explores a connection between such myths and rituals associated with seasonal change and sacral kingship. Ultimately, the project offers a mythic interpretation of A Painful Case that suggests the paralysis gripping both the story's protagonist, James Duffy, and Dublin as a whole may be read in relation to a failed kingship ritual.

A Matter of Song: The Role of Music and Song in Tolkien's Legendarium.
Professor Elizabeth Whittingham (English)

The use of music and the types of song in the legendarium, J. R. R. Tolkien's posthumously published works, are significantly different from those of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, yet music is still the center of that world. In the Ainulindalë, the universe is created by song, and the creative power of music is evident in the stories of the Elder Days. Estelle Ruth Jorgensen's and Amy M. Amendt-Raduege's articles on music in The Lord of the Rings mention several purposes of song that are also applicable to Tolkien's other works about Middle-earth. The early stories of the Elves attest to the value of music and song when the famous craftsman and prince, Fëanor, leads the Elves in rebellion against the gods and claims that their deeds will be remembered in song until the end of the world. This declaration is made in such a way as to suggest that these songs will somehow make up for the great sorrow that will be theirs as the Dispossessed. That songs might have such power is an astonishing assertion, but it is confirmed by the king of the gods, Lord Manwë, in his response to Fëanor's defiance. The value of these songs, their purpose, and their power-both to create and destroy-become evident in the stories that follow Manwë's declaration.

For the instructor who introduces the class to literature by talking about reader response criticism, the poem The Reader, by Dave Kelly (Filming Assassinations, 1979, Ithaca House, Ithaca, NY) is a useful tool. The variety of interpretations possible, while still recognizing the narrator's discomfort and anger at being misinterpreted, speaks to many college students in ways other poems often don't. Indeed, some students have seen their own struggles to be understood by their professors in the frustration of the narrator of the poem. My presentation will include an introduction to the poem and discussion of the ways it can make the concept of literary analysis more approachable to students.

Session 3D
1:15 – 2:00 p.m., Room 12-113

Our group was given the task to fabricate, code, and provide logic to a 8"; X 12"; X 10" autonomous robot that has the ability to transport one blue barrel from Spain to each of six islands on a 4' X 12' wooden track. Furthermore, at each of the six islands our robot must be able to collect a red dowel, maneuver the track, and bring the red dowels back to Spain and deposit them. Our robot must have the logic to navigate the track, which includes obstacles such as a hurricane, rapids and boulders. Our group is accomplishing this task with an Arduino UNO board, which allows us to send messages to the robot in the form of C coding. This coding utilizes logical statements and multiple outputs that allows our robot to analyze the obstacles around it.

For the TYESA-ASEE project, we have faced numerous challenges including brainstorming design ideas, acquiring parts and materials, deciding on a microcontroller and program, navigating the track, and the dispensing and grabbing of the dowels. We have done research to figure out what design is most ideal for the track that we are working with and have come up with something that will have no problem running the track and making all the turns without getting caught or crashing. We also decided on using an Astirus microcontroller to program our robot to do all of the tasks that are required. We need to be able to dispense 6 blue dowels and pick up 6 red dowels and bring them back to Spain all in 90 seconds. Also, our robot needs to be within the dimensions allowed (8" x 12" x 10").

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are pieces of advanced technology which can perform tasks that are difficult to impossible for people to accomplish by the use of piloted aircraft. To create a viable system for controlling such vehicles, one must understand the physical principles associated with the dynamics of drones by calculating degrees of freedom and equations of motion. Through the LSAMP REU program at Syracuse University, I studied two common approaches that are used to calculate the equations of motion for mechanical systems; this was done by solving multiple dynamics-related problems for equations of motion using each method of solving separately. To demonstrate the superiority of analytical methods over Newtonian methods in the case of complex mechanical systems, I calculated a solution to the classic inverted pendulum on a cart scenario using first the Newtonian method and then the Euler-Lagrange method. Because the use of Newton's second law requires that each component of the inverted pendulum be considered independently, the Euler-Lagrange method is deemed preferable, as it is more efficient, less arithmetically involved, and allows for the entire system to be analyzed as a whole rather than separating it into its constituent parts.

The purpose of our research was to build a lithium nanoparticle battery and understand why they are quick and effective energy holders. Current trends in battery use and practicality triggered our desire to understand and build a lithium nanoparticle battery. The researchers built four batteries in three weeks; usually it takes approximately two weeks to construct a single battery. Four batteries were built. Then we ran an electric current through the batteries for eight hours at a time and then tested the charge capacity and discharge capacity. One of the batteries produced proficient results. More research is needed to analyze the effectiveness of nanoparticle batteries.

Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases of the oral cavity equal to dental caries. According to the CDC, 64.7 million American adults (almost half of the adult population in the United States) suffer from some stage of periodontal disease, and most don't know it. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to halitosis, bone loss, tooth loss, as well as exacerbate systemic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Therefore, it is vital that dental care providers perform risk assessment for periodontal disease on all patients, and inform dental patients of their risk, so they may participate in disease prevention and management strategies. Many risk assessment tools have been constructed by dental professionals to emphasize the need for education, prevention, and management of this disease; one example of this is the Periodontal Risk Assessment Tool created by the Department of Periodontology of the University of Bern. A sample of patients seen at the Monroe Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic was collected, and then analyzed using the University's risk assessment tool. After completing the analysis, this sample has further demonstrated the importance of identifying the risk of periodontal disease in addition to the risk of dental caries.

A UAV, or unmanned aerial vehicle, is an aircraft piloted by remote control or onboard computers. The remote control UAV we built for our 2017 SUNY TYESA Mini UAV Competition had to fly through obstacles, have an onboard ball-drop mechanism in order to drop two golf balls onto their respective platforms, have a cost of materials not exceeding $250, and have a preflight safety switch and a mid-flight shut-off switch. Without the ability to use any preexisting UAV design, our team, with much trial and error, designed and fabricated the UAV on our own. The design requirements of the competition rules affected our design process, as we had to integrate a ball-drop mechanism, find inexpensive materials, and install remote safety switches. This presentation will examine our design and fabrication of the UAV from start to finish, how the design requirements affected our design process, how our UAV performed in the competition, and how we could improve our final design.

This engineering design project is meant to showcase our ability to design and build a UAV drone to compete in the SUNY TYESA competition. As a group, we hope to build a drone that completes the designated tasks of the competition. This includes being able to accurately maneuver our drone on a field set-up and drop color-coated golf balls into respective bins while hovering. The applications required for this project include the use of computer-aided design software, machining equipment, wiring design software, as well as other manual techniques.

Monroe Community College hosts a variety of students and takes pride in creating an inclusive community. However, the diversity conversation on campus seldom includes the spectrum of abilities of its students. The Transitional Employment Academic Model Program (TEAM) students propose to explore campus community perceptions by asking questions such as: Are college students aware of the wide range of abilities of students on campus? What stigmas exist around being a student with a developmental disability? How can we challenge these stigmas? Students will examine attitudes of hidden and physical disabilities and attitudes about inclusion through documented observations of campus interactions, interviews, anonymous surveys, and personal testaments. From these results, students will discuss recommendations for how we can increase awareness and inclusion, as well as how we can define disability in the diversity conversation on campus.

In this retrospective study, we are studying the difference in the magnitude of tumor motion with and without abdominal compression. Our lungs experience both voluntary and involuntary movements, causing tumors to move around which complicates the treatment of lung cancer patients during radiotherapy. While voluntary actions can be temporarily halted to dampen tumor motion, involuntary movements cannot. In Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), small lung tumors receive high doses of radiation, making it crucial to understand and account for their movement. The AAPM TG-76 report advises lung cancer patients experiencing tumor motion greater than 5 mm to undergo respiratory gating or some form of tumor motion management. It is generally believed, that abdominal compression forces patients to take shallow breaths and hence may dampen the tumor motion. This study explores whether abdominal compression slows the movement of a tumor in the lungs. The results were inconclusive.

This project focused on the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biological applications. Gold NPs can be modified for many different projects, including disease detection using different size AuNPs in an assembly with DNA and protein. This research project tested whether different size AuNPs interacted with DNA, with a protein, or a combination of both. The assembly of AuNPs with these biomolecules in solution was tracked using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The results from the interactions from both of these techniques will be presented. Potentially, the detection of these assemblies may assist in the design of a larger method used as a diagnostic tool for the presence of early-stage cancer and other disease detection.

Hydroelectric power is sustainable and beneficial to communities and the planet. Hydroelectric power comes from flowing water from streams, clear lakes, and run-off water from the mountains, through the force of gravity. This falling water turn the blades in a turbine to produce electricity. The moving water is kinetic energy because the water is in motion. Once the moving waters turn the blades in a turbine, the energy is changed to mechanical energy because the blades act like a machine. When the blades are turning, the rotor of the turbine converts the mechanical energy to electricity. The waters then exit the turbine and re-go through the water cycle and can be used again to produce electricity. This is called renewable energy source. This project sought to create a prototype of a turbine from simple items, such as plastic tubing, glue, plastic spoons, and a small rotor to produce electrical voltage. The blades of the turbine determined how much electricity the turbine produced. Each team created a turbine prototype and these were tested to see which turbines produced the most voltage.

Propaganda has been used as a tool to rally the masses to a common cause. War propaganda ultimately romanticizes the brutal reality of war and the life of the solider. The most blatant war propaganda that exists today would be the use of social media by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The organization invests large amounts of resources into creating videos and postings to recruit others to their cause. Many members have experience in photography, videography, production, and editing, all coming together to create what is referred to as a propaganda machine. The Shia Islamic axis conflict and al-Qaeda's invasion of Iraq and Syria fueled an all-out genocide, leaving Iraqis and Syrians frustrated as they witnessed unprecedented deaths and deformities. ISIS used propaganda as a tool to keep them aware of the ongoing tragedy and by ways of recruitment, provided a means for the people to fight back. By investing resources into detailed scripts, multiple takes, and top-of-the-line filming equipment, ISIS now horrifies the Western world with Hollywood-style videos of beheadings, wholesale massacres, and other malevolent forms of execution. These media tactics have succeeded in maintaining a constant inflow of soldiers as well as striking fear in the hearts of their adversaries.

A prototype of a quadcopter was built to test and simulate the idea of remotely dropping resources for difficult to reach locations. To construct the quadcopter, we used wood and bolts for the main body, and zip ties and Velcro to secure the components onto the main body. In order to simulate dropping specific resources for different locations, the quadcopter will be able to autonomously differentiate between a red or blue light and drop the correct resource accordingly. The quadcopter prototype was capable of dropping the correct resource for each simulated location as well as maneuvering around terrain to reach them. These results would suggest that a full-scale version of the quadcopter would be capable of dropping resources to remote locations.

Heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel, lead, mercury, copper, arsenic, and zinc, are some of the main components of water pollution. These metals, in high concentrations, can be highly toxic, carcinogenic, and non-biodegradable. Living organisms consume low concentrations of heavy metals, potentially causing serious health problems. Exposure to heavy metals can cause kidney damage, reduced growth and development, and cancer. This study analyzed the use of polymers to absorb mercury in water. Polymers have a high ion exchange capacity and can absorb many times their weight, producing less than 1% increase in waste volume. Dilutions of mercury and nitric acid were used to test the amount that could be consumed by a polymer. We measured pH levels, length of time, and capacity of the dilution. The results were inconclusive as to the amount of mercury a polymer could absorb. More research is needed to explore the possible use of polymers in the absorption of other heavy metals in water.

The Role of Dopamine D3 Receptors in the Manifestation of Dyskinesia in the Hemi-Parkinsonian Rat
Sara Llopis
Dr. Christopher Bishop
Sponsor: Professor Tori Matthews (Biology)

Chronic dopamine (DA) replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients causes abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs), known as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). Previous studies have shown an increase in the expression of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) in rats, monkeys, and PD patients that display dyskinesia, but the precise role of this receptor is under studied. Our study employed highly selective pharmacologic agents, PD128907 and SRI21502, which are D3R agonists and antagonists, respectively, to characterize the role of D3 receptor in LID. As predicted, D3R plays an essential role in dyskinesia manifestation. Contrary to our hypothesis, the D3R antagonist had modest effects suggesting that D3R function may change in the dyskinetic brain and offer novel targets for the treatment of LID.